DETROIT, MI – March 31, 2026 – As a growing number of families across southeastern Michigan are struggling with economic challenges, United Way for Southeastern Michigan has invested $5.3 million funding to support 95 local nonprofit organizations providing essential services families across Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
These community partners are helping families meet immediate needs like food, housing and youth support, while also connecting them to resources that promote longer-term stability.
These investments have already helped more than 200,000 individuals and households. Nearly all of those served are considered below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold, a term used to describe households that are working but still struggle to afford basic necessities like housing, childcare, utilities and transportation.
United Way plays a unique role across Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties by bringing together funding, data and community partners – ensuring resources are distributed efficiently where they are needed most.
Addressing Immediate Needs and Long-Term Stability
United Way’s funding supports a range of services, from emergency assistance to wraparound programs designed to help families build stability over time, to long-term policy solutions that create opportunity and promote economic mobility.
“United Way is uniquely positioned to both meet the urgency of today’s challenges and promote the long-term solutions our communities need,” said Jeff Miles, Vice President of Community Impact at United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “Providing flexible investments allows us and our partners to move resources where they are needed most; supporting frontline staff, stabilizing essential services and ensuring families don’t fall through the cracks during uncertain times. We want to build a connected system of care, working for everyone.”
Community Access and Response Fund: Supports emergency food, homelessness prevention, after-school programs and efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism.
- $1.2 million invested in 37 organizations
- 77,738 people served in the first half of the grant
- More than 40% of organizations have already exceeded their annual service goals
Servicios integrales y Fondo de Estabilidad
- $3.5 million invested in 41 organizations and collaboratives
- Provides coordinated, multi-service support for families
- 124,752 people served—already 70% of the expected number to be served just halfway through the grant
- Focuses on helping families address multiple challenges at once
Connect4Care and Systems Change Fund
- $600,000 invested in 16 organizations
- Supports organizations advocating for policies that advance long-term solutions for ALICE families and support a pathway to prosperity.
- Pulls together core homeless service organizations across our four counties to build more coordination through data sharing and technology.
Filling Gaps as Demand Increases
As federal and state funding sources face delays, cuts and uncertainty, United Way’s flexible funding has helped ensure services continue without interruption.
This funding has allowed nonprofit partners to:
- Maintain critical frontline staff
- Expand hours and locations to serve more families
- Offer services not typically covered by traditional funding sources
- Respond quickly to increased demand, including spikes in food assistance needs
Many organizations report that demand for services has increased by more than 30% in the past six months, while others have reduced waitlists and expanded the number of people they can serve.
Supporting families who often may not qualify for other help
Unlike many traditional funding sources, United Way’s grants allow nonprofits to respond to families facing real financial hardship, even when that hardship is not fully reflected in conventional eligibility thresholds.
“By complementing more restricted grants, United Way’s flexible operating support helps us expand access to emergency food assistance, reduce stress for working families, and provide dignified, timely support to households striving to remain stable despite financial constraints,” MiChele Basemore, Chief of Staff, Metro Detroit AFL-CIO.
Mirando hacia el futuro
While the impact so far is significant, nonprofit partners are seeing continued growth in need, driven by rising costs, economic uncertainty, and challenges of accessing public benefits.
At the same time, funding sources are becoming more limited—raising concerns about their long-term sustainability.
Despite these challenges, organizations are adapting by forming new partnerships, exploring additional funding sources, and adjusting how services are delivered.
Strengthening a Network of Support
United Way’s approach focuses not just on funding individual programs, but on building a connected network of organizations working together.
- Nine out of ten partners report actively collaborating with other organizations
- Partnerships are helping expand services, deploy resources, and improve outcomes for families
- Collaboration is creating a more seamless experience for individuals seeking help
This coordinated approach ensures families can access multiple types of support without navigating systems alone.
“There is value in the short and long term to building these relationships to ensure that we can serve people in need in a collaborative way and coordinate efforts, when possible,” Julie Hintz, Program Manager, Macomb Community Action.
A Regional Backbone for Support
United Way for Southeastern Michigan serves as a central hub bringing together funding, partners, and strategy to respond to community needs in real time.
By investing in both immediate relief and long-term solutions, United Way is helping ensure families across the region not only get the support they need today—but also have a pathway toward a more stable future. For more information on United Way’s grants process and to view the report, visit the following link.
For media inquiries: Jerome Espy, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, 248-417-9567
Acerca de United Way para el sureste de Michigan
United Way for Southeastern Michigan, a member of the United Way Worldwide network and an independently governed 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, works to help households become stable and ensure children have the support they need to thrive. For more than one hundred years, United Way has been a leader in creating positive, measurable, and sustainable change in communities throughout southeast Michigan. United Way works in partnership with donors, agencies, corporate and municipal partners to help families meet their basic needs of housing, food, health care, and family finances, and ensure children start school ready to learn and graduate ready for life. To give, advocate, volunteer or learn more, visit UnitedWaySEM.org.
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